How do I charge a phone on a camping trip without mains power?

Main answer · Wecent Editorial Team

Short answer: The simplest answer is a charged power bank sized for your trip, plus habits that save battery. A solar panel can top up the power bank in good sun but is slow. A car’s USB or 12-volt port works if you are near the vehicle. Pack the right cable, keep the batteries warm and avoid charging in a way that is unsafe in a tent.

Work out how much you need

Add up what you will charge and how often. A phone battery is a few thousand milliamp-hours, and a power bank gives somewhat less usable charge than its label because of conversion losses. For a weekend, a mid-sized power bank covers a couple of full phone charges. For longer trips, plan more, or a way to recharge.

Choose a power source

• Power bank. The most reliable choice. Charge it fully before you leave. A bank with USB-C output charges modern phones more quickly.
• Solar panel plus power bank. Panels can recharge a power bank in sunshine, but output depends on sun, angle and panel size, and it is slow. Use the panel to charge the bank, not directly to the phone.
• Car port. A car’s USB or 12-volt socket can charge a phone or a bank while the engine is running. Do not drain the car battery with the engine off.
• Hand-crank devices. They provide small amounts of power and suit emergencies more than daily use.

Save battery

1. Switch on low-power mode and dim the screen.
2. Use airplane mode, or turn mobile data off, when there is no signal. Searching for signal drains the battery quickly.
3. Download maps and music in advance.
4. Close apps and turn off location when you do not need it.

Keep it warm

Cold reduces battery performance. Keep the phone and power bank inside your jacket or sleeping bag at night, not outside the tent.

Charge safely

• Do not charge devices inside a sleeping bag or under bedding.
• Keep power banks and cables dry and away from the stove and open flame.
• Use the cable and charger that suit the device, and stop if anything gets hot.
• Do not use a damaged or swollen power bank.

Pack list

A charged power bank, a short cable for each device, a small waterproof pouch, and a spare cable. Add a solar panel only if you will be out for several days in good sun.

Where this answer says to confirm with Wecent, the detail is not published on the product page and has to come from the datasheet or the factory. General facts come from the regulators, standards bodies or device makers named in the text.